Trivia of Betty Hutton

Trivia of Betty Hutton (26 February 1921 - 12 March 2001)

*Hutton became known as “America’s Number One Jitterbug” because of her hilarious and eccentric way of singing. Her “whoop-and-holler” style made her famous and helped her find an entry into showbiz.Because of her energetic style, comedian Bob Hope referred to her as "A vitamin pill with legs".

*Betty Hutton said in an interview during filming Annie Get Your Gun (1950), the crew at MGM was not very nice to her because they told her they'd rather have Judy Garland in the role.Reportedly, Betty Hutton and her co-star, Howard Keel also did not get along on the set. Keel thought that Hutton cared more about her career than her co-stars.

*Another standout moment for Hutton was when she paired up with dancing legend Fred Astaire in the musical 'Let's Dance (1950)'. The film didn’t do well at the box office despite the popularity of both stars, perhaps because they were so different.Astaire being all sophistication as opposed to Hutton’s rough and humorous style.However, Astaire admitted that working with Hutton kept him on his toes because she was “so talented and conscientious.”

*She starred in Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) opposite Charlton Heston. The film won an Oscar for best film and was Hutton’s biggest movie to date.The Greatest Show on Earth brought fame and fortune to Hutton, but she also had to pay a price for it.Filming took place in Florida, where she had to train for her role of a trapeze artist for months. Unfortunately, she injured her arm during training one day and had to take prescription-strength painkillers for quite some time to recover.This was the turning point that would lead to Hutton's horrifying addiction to pills.

*Hutton produced The Betty Hutton Show (1959 - 1960) in collaboration with Desilu Productions and spent all her money in trying to ensure it would be a hit. In a heartbreaking twist of events, it completely flopped. She didn’t trust anyone else with it and tried to do most things herself, which didn’t work out at all. As a result, her health and money dwindled.

*Hutton realized she’d hit an all-time slump in 1967. She declared herself bankrupt and faced the end of marriage. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Betty Hutton was utterly alone: Her daughters were living with their father, her sister was out of the picture, and her mother had passed. With no money and nobody to turn to, she did the unthinkable.After losing her family and career, Hutton was found homeless and alone on the streets, struggling to find a place to sleep for the night.Hutton had a nervous breakdown and attempted suicide. She regained control of her life through rehabilitation, and the mentorship of a Catholic priest, Father Peter Maguire. Hutton took a job as a cook and housekeeper at a rectory in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. She made national headlines when it was revealed she was practically penniless and working in a rectory.

*In September 1978, Hutton was featured on The Phil Donahue Show, where she extensively discussed her life and career. She was then happily employed as hostess at a Newport, Rhode Island, jai alai arena.She also appeared on Good Morning America, which led to a televised reunion with her two daughters.Hutton began living in a shared home with her daughter and grandchildren in California.